The Burlington Board of Health heard from experts Tuesday night as they try to tackle the subject. The board was asked by the public to submit their recommendation to City Council, a board member said.

“We’re talking about an honor for the guard, at the possible expense of the health and cognitive development of 7,000 to 9,000 people,” said Catherine Kirby.

“You have very little to no information on the impacts that you would want to know about,” said Les Blomberg, the director of Noise Clearinghouse, an organization whose mission is to educate the public about noise pollution.

According to critics, the military’s study on environmental impacts for basing the fighter jet in Vermont does not take into account health.

But, the air guard said the study does say there is no scientific basis claiming potential health effects exist by basing the planes in Vermont.

The statement surrounds the 65 DNL zone. An area where the day-night average sound level exceeds 65 decibels is considered by OSHA and the FAA as uninhabitable.

A 65 DNL zone already surrounds Burlington International Airport where the air guard is based. It would change with a new plane, the guard said. Many airports located in populated areas also have 65 DNL zones, the guard said Tuesday.

According to the military, the F-35 has a louder engine than its predecessor, but will not necessarily be louder if based here. That’s because the F-16 takes off with a loud afterburner, while the F-35 does not necessarily need the afterburner boost, the guard said.

The military is looking to bring 18-24 jets to Vermont if it is based here.

Dr. Mark Gorman from the University of Vermont said studies show added noise has shown to create increased anxiety and stress in humans. That added anxiety, doctors said, can lead to high blood pressure, disturbance in sleep and greater risk for stroke.

Experts also cited a 2011 World Health Organization study that found increase traffic and airport noise caused disturbances in sleep and concentration, and increased rise for cardiovascular disease. The study said noise levels higher than 60 db could cause these health issues near an airport, therefore people already living near commercial traffic and the F-16 based at the air guard station hear these noise levels.

The guard said it stands by the environment impact study, disputing a belief that health will be compromised, adding its belief that there will not be additional noise, and, there could be a decrease in noise than currently emitted from the F-16.

Those in the health field also added living near airports in general can cause health issues because of the added noise.

The guard said it can make changes to how it flies planes, if the F-35 does come to South Burlington.

“We have the procedures here in how we fly the airplanes,” said Lt. Col. Luke Ahmann of the guard. “Whether we turn right out of traffic, or left out of traffic, or to climb at a quicker pace is determined by the leadership here. We do have control to be able to change that.”

Ahmann added the guard worked with a school in Winooski to change flight patterns.

A board member said members will take Tuesday’s testimony and minutes from a previous public forum in its resolution to City Council.

The final version of the environmental impact statement is scheduled to be released in January, the guard said.

A decision on whether to base the planes in Vermont is expected in February. If the project gets the green light, the planes could be in South Burlington in 2020.